The Guard

Naruto Uzumaki had long since stopped knowing how to describe his feelings. More than a decade of life experience offered him little help. He had once only watched enviously as other people's children acted spoiled before their parents, never imagining that he too would one day be this happy.

"I saw Dad not long ago too."

"I know. Since I appeared, that means Minato must have disappeared. I'd originally hoped to see him one last time. What a pity."

"Ah... yeah. It would have been nice if we could all be together."

Perhaps there had once been such a chance, but Minato Namikaze, whose power had already been exhausted at the Waterfall of Truth, had no possibility of appearing again.

With the Eight Trigrams Seal undone, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki no longer had a safe place to hide within Naruto Uzumaki's body. Once they appeared and their strength ran out, only oblivion awaited them.

"It's about time for me too. Naruto, from now on, live well. Don't lose to anyone else!"

"So soon?"

Naruto Uzumaki was reluctant to part with her, but even for someone of Kushina Uzumaki's bloodline, using Adamantine Sealing Chains to restrain the Nine-Tails consumed no small amount of power. She definitely could not hold on for long.

"There's nothing to be done about it. Your father and I are already dead. I'm sorry, Naruto. We couldn't give you a happy childhood."

"It's okay. I have lots of friends and companions, and plenty of seniors who care about me too."

"I know."

Kushina Uzumaki's chakra, already beginning to fade, said with a smile, "I could tell from the energy inside you and the fluctuations in your sealing techniques. Some of it wasn't your father's or my work. They really do 'care' about you. But thinking about